Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-02-17
THE SWAPPING TURTLE.

Although the snapper" or swapping
turtle, is well known reptile, Its life
history, owing TO its secluded habits, is,
as a general rule, but little understood.
1t has long geographical range, be-
ing found from Canada to Ecuador, 5.
A., but is wanting on tho Pacific slope
of the United States.
During the month of April the snap.
pers quit their winter dormitories,
which are merely mud holes at the bot
tom of some marsh or pond. A month
or so later the females search for a
suitable place in which 10 deposit their
eggs This is not in the wafer, but
upon the bank where the soil is sandy
or soft. and more or less dry and ex-
posed to the sun. They will sometimes
travel quarter of q mile or more away
from the water to find suitable sandy
spot. These journeys are generally
made on rainy or cloudy days, or during
the night. The holes in which the eggs
are deposited are scooped. out with the
turtles hind feet only, almost exactly
in the same manner rs our box or land
turtle. While digging, the turtle per-
forms, as it were, II clumsy and slow
waltz. The holes are excavated only to
the depth to which the leg and foot of
the turtle is able to reach. The number
of eggs deposited depends upon the
size and age of the snapper. From
fifteen to nearly double that number
have been counted. After the eggs are
laid they are carefully covered with
sand, and the hole is filled and leveled
so perfectly that it cannot be recognized.
The eggs vary in size from II to II
inches in length. They are somewhat
round or globular in form, and are cov-
cred with a tough, lcathery skin.
The little snappcrs escape from the
eggs and dig their way out of the sand,
from the middle of June TO the 1st of
August; and Immediately, by direct
line, seek the nearest body OF water.
Instinct seems to tell them the correct
route. for they nave, l believe, never
been found travelling in the wrong
direction, although in some instances the
water was quite a distance of, and en-
tircly hidden from view.
Great numbers of swapping turtles are
sold in our markets. They are served
upon the tables of our hotels and eating
houses IN the form OF soup or stewcd
snapper" but. l believe, in no other
way. For my part, do not consider
it savory dish, and always omit il
from my bills of fare. would suggest
snapper salad instead of lobster salad,
as the latter valuable animal is becom-
ing so rapidly exterminated. Vinegar
and high seasoning might destroy that
somewhat rank and musky flavor which
snapper generally possesses.
Ihave noticed on several occasions
the mode practiced by some farmers OF
"fattening" snappers previous to kill
ing them for the pot. After they are
caught they are kept for some weeks in
the tank or hogshead containing sour
milk, kitchen slops, ETC., which is kept
for feeding the hogs. 1t is not natural
that such unsavory surroundings should
produce much fat and it certainly does
not add to the health and happiness OF
the captive turtle. ..
The snapper has voracious appetite.
Everything in the animal line that he
is able to master is included in his
menu. To the breeder of ducks and
geese he is great pest. Rising stealth
lily beneath the swimming duckling nc
seizes it by the feet, pulls it under the
water, and drags it off to some con-
venient spot, where it is deVoured. The
snapper also has the habit OF lying in
wait for its prey in some secluded hole
under the bank; and when fish, youn Q
muskrat, eel, or frog passes his retreat,
he darts out his long neck, and, stimuli
taneou>ly throwing his whole body for
ward, catches in his jaws the unsus-
pecting victim. Although carnivorous
in habits, the snapper has been known
TO pull and eat berries from bushes
which overhung the water.
The swapping turtle is remarkably
tenacious Of life. Its head. though
completely severed from its body, will
seize with IFS jaws stick Or other OBJ
ject that is placed near enough for it
to grasp. Indeed, have seen a head
that was able to use its jaws the day
after it had been detached from its body.
The shell or carapax of the snapper
adult measures from 9 inches to over 2
feet in length. DR.. De Kay gives 4 feet
as the maximum size. but | have never
known one so large. An old individual
caught in the Schuylkill river above
Philadelphia weighed "a pounds, which
was considered very large for this
locality.
There are two species of swapping
turtles found in the United States-the
one here described (Che7ydra seypen-
tinG and the great-headcd or alligator
snapper (hacrochelys lacertina), found
only in the Mississippi river, its tribu-
tary streams, and the rivers of the Gulf
States. The latter can be distinguished
by its enormously large head, which is
covered with smooth, symmetrical
plates, while the head of the common
snapper is covered with rather rough
but soft skin.- Scientific american. .